Apple iOS platform has more than 4 generations of gaming combined

By on Nov 17, 2010 at 5:30 PM
Gaming November 17, 2010

The good boys and girls over at TUAW put together a fun little comparison visual for everyone, and it’s pretty interesting. They have compared the number of games available in Apple’s App Store with over 4 generations of game consoles, portable gaming systems, and more. The result is what you see visualized above. Yes, the App Store has more games than you’d expect, especially when put in context with how many games have been released to this day on every system, combined. However, when you add in quality of games, and how easy it is for someone to create a day in the modern age of today, well, it’s a little less impressive. But not by much.

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39 Comments

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  • Anonymous

    meh, too bad iOS has horrible controller for gaming.

    • Mgl323

      Some games do have horrible controls, others don’t.

      • Anonymous

        some? really. No, the games this article is trying to compare ALL have horrible controls, especially when compared to the console or even PC versions.

  • Norm

    This is nothing. DROIDs app store is far superior and has way better games. That is why developers are lining up to DROID and DROID OS while leaving crApple far behind. DROID DOES!

    • Anonymous

      ITS CALLED ANDROID!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Anonymous

      What!!!!! Not just the iPhone 4, but also iPod touch As well, there are more hardcore games coming to iOS. Lookup gameloft games, there incredible. And they got this new game coming out called infinity blade by the guys behind gears of war…and it looks sick. there 1st person shooting games, madden, I just got done playing mirrors edge that game is sick. are you kidding me yall cant even get netflix or hulu on it right now. name me some far superior android apps.

    • opiapr

      Whats DROID App Store or DROID OS? I know Android but the only DROID I know is a phone not an OS. Do your homework before posting.

      And while the Android Market (not DROID) has lots of excellent games the quality and availability still not on par with the iOS App Store.

    • Goofan (aka Apple Hater)

      That’s right NORM! Plus, Android (or Droid, for us connoisseurs, better known as Goofans aka Apple Haters) has by far the top performance for video games in history. I heard from Eric Schmidt (our God!) you have on that little phone more power than 100 PS3′s put together. And you know what? I believe him because Google doesn’t lie! I am able to run simulations on my droid x that rival those seen in Seattle at Boing’s r&d centers. All the while lasting upwards of 7 weeks without having to charge the phone!

  • Meh

    And how many of those games are ports or knock offs of the true classics from there original systems….

    • Anonymous

      How many of the games just suck?

  • dex

    and half of them make farty sounds :P

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GP2WYAHXS6CRUREISWBGPUSUGE Michael

    Well it’s pretty simple to figure out. Most iOS games are 99 cents – 2.99. and hand-held console games are 30.00 and up for new. I think i’d rather spend 99 cents a few times for little Bobby, then 30 bucks a pop for a game that will be out dated in 1 yr.

    • Anonymous

      That is completely wrong.

      1. The $1-$3 games on iOS are no where near the same full game you find on the DS/Wii/360/PS3. So its not even close to the same experience.

      2. Your cost comparison seems to ignore the monthly cost of having just the data plan associated with the device. (its free to play games on the consoles)

      3. When those $30 games become outdated or finished, you can resale for more than 1/2 the price on Ebay as well. Hell, you can wait a week/month after launch and buy in Ebay for a great discount. Can’t do either with iOS.

      • Scott

        “2. Your cost comparison seems to ignore the monthly cost of having just the data plan associated with the device. (its free to play games on the consoles)”

        I guess you forgot about the iPod Touch and the iPad?

      • Anonymous

        Considering iPhone has the largest market, meh.

        Also I forgot to add:

        4. Controls. iOS lacks them. Most games on the other systems work a billion times better than just using touch and tilt.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GP2WYAHXS6CRUREISWBGPUSUGE Michael

        I will agree you on one point and one point alone, selling the games at 1/2 via Craigslist or Ebay. Other that you are complete off track. I can go out and buy a 8gig iPod for 225.00 for little Johnny. Spend anywhere from 8-10 bucks for several games and keep him entertained for several hours per game. Where as if i went out and bought a a portable console i’m looking @ ~150.00 plus 30.00+ per game and keep him entertained for a few hours, then he gets board and wants a new game… . And if i resell them for 15.00 bucks i’ve spent 15.00 on a game that beat but i no longer own. At least with iOS i can sync the ipod to my computer and reload the game as i see fit. Coming from an economic stand point, portable systems are a waist. Regardless of how you feel about iOS, you cannot deny that it’s a expensive money pit. 1. The $1-$3 games on iOS are no where near the same full game you find on the DS/Wii/360/PS3. So its not even close to the same experience.And i am talking Portable gaming. The 360/Wii/PS3 is not portable. and i own all three of those systems. 2. Your cost comparison seems to ignore the monthly cost of having just the data plan associated with the device. (its free to play games on the consoles)Oh and while i am at it. explain something to me… where is the data contract tied to my iPod? 3. When those $30 games become outdated or finished, you can resale for more than 1/2 the price on Ebay as well. Hell, you can wait a week/month after launch and buy in Ebay for a great discount. Can’t do either with iOS. Correct, but it’s pretty obvious that most people would rather spend .99 – 2.99 on a game for iOS then 15.00 for a used game.

      • Anonymous

        haha, you say you own all the home consoles yet you somehow think “little Johnny” would rather play endless iOS casual/gimped games than the full games on DS/PSP product lines?

        8gb iPod touch $220
        10 iOS games ~$20 (average of 1-3 is 2 and 2*10)
        Total cost for some basics is ~$240.

        DSLite $160 at walmart with really good accessory pack and 2 games (New Super Mario Bros and Band game)
        8 DS games based on average used price of $10 for 100′s of great FULL games. $80
        Total cost for DSLite with 10 far bigger and more entertaining games than the casual game experience offered by any mobile OS…. $240. Even if you buy a game like Mario Kart which used is about $20, you’re still pretty damn close to my estimate above, yet you own two Mario games that on their own will blow away any game iOS offers.

        Just because you don’t utilize the tools around you and waste money on 100% new stuff your “little Johnny” doesn’t mean the other choice is a “money pit”.

        People will get board of their casual iOS or gimped portable console game on iOS just as quickly as they would the full game on the console. The biggest difference is that on the portable consoles you have a better game and better controls AND you can resell and buy used.

        Additionally, the DSLite his 2 to 3 times the battery life of any iOS product and is far more durable. Which makes it a much smarter choice, especially if the player is a child or teen.

        Hell for $30 more you can snag the DSi or a PSP and get access to Nintendo’s/Sony’s own download service and access hundreds of $2-$5 games as well as music and videos, etc. similar to iOS.

        For a full multimedia web device, sure, the iOS as well as Android devices are the best choices. But for gaming… they just don’t really stack up.

        Finally, as for “it’s pretty obvious that most people would rather spend .99 – 2.99 on a game for iOS then 15.00 for a used game” LOL – guess that’s why every online retailer in the last year has opened a used game section.

  • http://mindmirror007.blogspot.com Sathya

    Comparing Apples to Oranges!

  • Mgl323

    Gather some data and come back to us with the info. :) lol

    • Mgl323

      @meh

  • p.mcgee

    i ReaLly LiKe thE gAmEs oN My Ip0d, mY m0m GaVe m3 a tEn DollAr iTuNes cArd So its KeWL AnD i rEaLly LikE tHE onE WhErE YoU t0ss tHe pap3r inTo ThE TraSh CaN w00t w00t

    • cnote1287

      LMAO

  • Len

    “However, when you add in quality of games, and how easy it is for someone to create a day in the modern age of today, well, it’s a little less impressive. But not by much.”

    Not by much? I hope you’re being sarcastic cuz the mere fact that you’re comparing games on mobile devices to consoles already shows your lack of understanding.

    • Crescentdave

      Maybe Johnny’s just learning how to play games. That’s actually a good thing about iOS- people who would never play a serious game get to “play around” with an intro version- the equivalent of one speed bike with training wheels. If they like it, they move on to something more serious …

      Quiz: how many “game apps” does it take to equal one “black opps?”

  • Adf

    it seems like the writers on this site try to write about apple as much as possible.

    can you say useless and irrelevant information?

    thx

    • opiapr

      there are many tech sites out there if you don’t like BGR then leave no one will miss you.

  • Anonymous

    I’m as guilty as the next person when it comes to giving BGR the page impressions that they so desperately wanted with this article, but… come on. How many of the games for the above-mentioned consoles were conceptualized, realized, and put in the market by one person? Has that ever even been possible for consoles*?

    I would go in a lot harder, but y’all got this from TUAW, and this is the kind of thing that I’d expect from them. As a matter of fact, I think I’m going to stroll over there to see the circle jerk going down in the comment section.

    *Hint: Probably not.

    • Camodood

      a bunch of the atari games were one man shows, but thats taking it back to the beginning.

  • Anonymous

    Console gaming is usually by far more immersive then either the iPhone or Android platform games. I don’t think its fair to compare the two markets. Most of the big sellers on the iOS and Android platforms are more along the lines of time killers (mini games). I think its fair to say there’s by far more casual gamers on mobile then there are on say gaming dedicated handhelds like PSP or Ninetendo DX. Casual gamers are different animals compared to hardcore gamers. My opinion is they’re two different segments in the gaming market.

  • BestBuyKnowItAll

    Anything that has to do with Apple in anyway will be covered on this site. I’m surprised that the BRG writers aren’t letting everyone here know what Steve Jobs is eating for lunch… If they could, you know they would. It almost embarrassing how much attention they give to Apple. I used to love coming to this site. Now when I bring it up the “BGR” it immediately gets referred to as “the Apple fanboy site” I wouldn’t be surprised if Apple had some sort or partnership in it and they tell their Apple robots to post anything with iPhone, iPad, iOS immediately when they find it.

  • Anonymous

    I prefer consoles over a hand held any day, this is not a fair comparison for so many reasons its not even funny.

  • http://twitter.com/monteit MonteIT.com

    how did they forget to add virtual boy?

  • Anonymous

    Um, this is apples to oranges. Numbers != quality…

  • wanderer

    Oh the fandroids and haters won’t like this ’cause I’m sure most of the postings here will be to trash this post since its apple news. Like I always say, keep your negative posts coming and more apple articles will get posted since it proves that love it or hate it, by reading and then posting, it shows you were interested enough. Best not to even click on it guys. Seriously, console gaming is where its at for me, however; games on the ipod touch or iphone are great for passing time.

  • SupAll

    Since we’re comparing iOS game apps to dedicated gaming systems, can we also have a separate chart totaling the number of games on the PC, including the ones found on websites? Thanks. I’m sure the iOS’s accomplishments would be pretty much zilch after such a comparison.

  • MR.Mighty

    I think you forgot to at Pc games to that list……

  • http://www.smallfish-bigpond.com/ Kerensky97

    Numbers mean nothing. Compare any one of those iOS games to a console game and check the quality. Even 25 year old games like Zelda on NES are more diverse and immersive than a top seller like Angry Birds.

  • http://infotainmentempire.blogspot.com Rob

    How many of the games on iOS are ports or sequels to something originally on one of the older consoles/handhelds?

    I’m wondering what’s the ORIGINAL game concept numbers between iOS and everything else.

  • rmcgoff

    Now compare the number of sales between the two groups and the metrics will look very different.

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